From the Detachment Commander
To be elected as Commander of Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Texas is an indescribable honor. Thank you for the trust you have bestowed upon me. I pledge to you that I will do the best job I can, and I will represent us well and with honor and dignity. While only one person holds the position, that one person cannot do the job by himself. Success is a team effort, and I know I can count on each of you to be an important member of this winning team.
While membership and retention will remain a priority, I urge you to take on the role of mentor. Mentorship is teaching your successors how to create their own path. It does no good to have a million-man army if only 100 of those men are trained in the use of their weapon and are willing to use it. If we don’t motivate and inspire our fellow squadron members to participate in S.A.L. programs, and we don’t pass our knowledge to them, our organization will die when we do.
2024-2025 is going to be an exciting year for the S.A.L. It will be our Year of Accomplishments, because of you. I challenge all squadrons in the great state of Texas to adopt a project in your neighborhood, or town, or county. We joined the S.A.L. to honor our parents and grandparents who served their country. We are not honoring them if we purchased a membership card just so that we could have a private place to have a drink, play pool, or shoot darts. We joined to help those who need help. You may ask what you can do as a squadron or as an individual. I would suggest that you visit hospitalized veterans, cook meals for the elderly, clean a stretch of highway, organize events for young people, take a veteran fishing, donate to youth activities, host quarterly blood drives, and support the programs your S.A.L. supports. The list is almost endless. Don’t be just a number – be a participant! Let’s impress Congress with millions of volunteer hours on our Consolidated Squadron Reports. Texas can lead the way!
As my service project, I created the Replace the Pain Project. The goal is to reduce the incidence of child suicide in military families. Working with Communities In Schools South Central Texas and utilizing their resources and experience, we can make this project a success. It will take all of us.
Squadrons throughout Texas have different levels of activity. We need to step up and extend a helpful hand to the less active squadrons so that they too can feel the satisfaction of carrying out their mission. Those squadrons need just one inspired member to stand up and lead. The others will follow.
Reach out to your district and division commanders as well as your detachment officers for any assistance and information you may need to ensure the success of your squadron. Share your ideas. It is our responsibility to help you when you need us. I urge you to download the S.A.L. Detachment of Texas website, and to follow us on Facebook. I invite you to attend the annual Detachment Convention and Fall and Mid-Winter conferences in Austin. You will gain a plethora of valuable information and knowledge that will help your squadron and your S.A.L. brothers. You will also enjoy the camaraderie. Get involved in the governance of your squadron. Each squadron needs at least 10 officers to function properly. It needs active members too. Blue cap members are the foundation of our organization. In every squadron in Texas there is a potential District, Division, Detachment, or National officer. Are you that person? It just takes some time and a lot of personally fulfilling work. It takes dedication, commitment, and passion. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. The people we help are worth it.
I look forward to meeting and shaking hands with as many of you as possible during my travels throughout the state. As my schedule, I will be honored to attend your conventions, installations, parades, and other special events. I look forward to serving you as you serve our veterans, communities, families, and youth. We truly are the proud possessors of a priceless heritage!
Respectfully,
George Alva
Commander Detachment of Texas
texdetcdr2425@yahoo.com
